#happy hunter but sad philip

[elleniemae]

Still drowning in the artiest of blocks but hey, at least I can doodle.

MAN I hate Belos but THIS right here is FREAKING PEAK character design, I’ve always really really loved possessed!Hunter’s look. Drawing him is always SO FREAKING FUN

[chocochipjewel]

Yapping about Belos and his ending excessively while also analysing him to the best of my ability under the cut

Belos fanart I also made

So given how much art of him I've reblogged by now, it really shouldn't come as a surprise that Belos is my favourite character from the Owl House.

I could talk about him for HOURSS but I just want to talk about 2 of my favourite moments of him to highlight the parts of him I love the most.

This moment in Hollow Mind, when he gets the key in his hand and you can see the light in his eyes. It's the only time his eyes have the distinct shine in them like every other character has all the time, and it's cause of the key he's holding. The key to the human realm is the only thing that gives him that shine cause it's the only thing he genuinely cares about. Everything he's doing is to go back home and revel in glory, which, while selfish, adds so much to his character. He's not doing this JUST for power, he became an Emperor just to tear his own creations down. I just find something extremely poetic about that.

And the second moment -

THIS MOMENT. THIS MOMENT IN KING'S TIDE AJDHSJSHSJS

I'm still mad these flashbacks were never brought up in any big way cause THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE BUT AHSKSJS I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF.

Belos reliving his worst memories was always a concept that was going to be interesting because it's an insight into what really gets into the head of our main antagonist. What does the guy who is everyone else's worst fear have to fear. And the answer is himself.

The 3 memories he sees are him approaching Caleb with the knife, the actual murder as pictured above, and the creation of the grimwalkers.

What really gets me is that his eyes are wide when he recalls the first memory, but they look smaller in the second memory (in the screenshot). Maybe it's just the angle but I always interpreted it as his expression shifting to be one of genuine sadness for this particular memory. Because the mere fact that his most personal crime is also his worst memory is such an interesting concept. How does he live with that sort of guilt and worse, keep doing those same crimes but WORSE?

All of Hollow Mind could just be here really and I wouldn't complain. It's THE episode for Belos fans that really allowed us to dig into him, and the mere fact that he's consciously scratched off Caleb from all the happy memories as if to justify his own fratricide is a level of desperate coping that I just find so very interesting ajdjhsjjs

Not to mention that his inner self is a child, which, while a pretence by him, could still say something about how in his head, he still has not grown up and is still playing pretend, still playing witch hunter with every version of Caleb he creates, still playing god to finally achieve a fantasy so very childish and so frankly basic that it makes anyone watching from the outside think "wait, that's it? That's all this is for?" AND THAT'S THE POINT

Cause none of this needed to happen. None of this has a greater value than Philip trying to chase after lost dreams. All the plans he made, all his great power and his great empire amounts to nothing because he himself plans to destroy all of it to chase that childhood dream. Just like Luz, he entered the Boiling Isles to find a home, only his home was Caleb and he was never willing to love new things in the Isles, while Luz loved so much she literally changed the lives of everyone she met by loving them. And unlike Luz, Philip never grew out of that mindset, only burying it in layers and layers of lies and half truths.

In general, his relationship with Caleb is for sure the most interesting part of his character to me. The fact that he both repeatedly murders and repeatedly creates new grimwalkers in an endless cycle and then hallucinates Caleb looking at him with disdain implies so much about his dependancy on Caleb and the deepest parts of himself that know what he's doing is wrong. The parts that have broken free from the layers and layers of cognitive dissonance and have accepted that he was wrong, without any more justifications.

And now, to 'briefly' rant about him in season 3

Thanks to Them was juicy for character exploration, but I wish we actually got to see him react to the human realm properly. It's everything he's wanted, it's the one thing that still brings light into his life but the world he returned to would absolutely hate him. He's done all this for nothing. I wanted so badly to see how he copes with his guilt then, but they were short on time so I get it.

For the Future's hallucination scene makes this even more interesting cause of the depiction of him actually seriously suffering from something like hallucinations. It was dark as hell, and it was really interesting.

And then... WaD. All in all, a great finale. The only real big problem I had with it was Belos' ending.

After so much buildup to his depth and his motivations and his guilt and all his lies slowly collapsing around him, after everything he did to so many people, he deserved a better death. I don't think he didn't deserve death, I just think it happened too quick. Where was the final cathartsis from all his victims shunning him (Luz staring was perfect don't get me wrong, but the whole Hexsquad deserved to be there). Where was the moment he would finally no longer be able to lie to himself and he would be forced to accept that he did EVERYTHING he did, made all those great sacrifices, tortured so many people, just to fail and be at his victims' mercy after accomplishing nothing?

I understand the finale was juggling many MANY characters and plotpoints, but that's not stopping me from wishing for a better ending.

I wish I had had the motivation to draw something for this like I'd hoped, but a brief description about what kind of ending I'd have wanted will have to do.

I wish Luz saw his memories in the place in between with Papa Titan. It would reinforce her arc of feeling like they come from the same place too, if she saw Caleb leaving Philip and Philip's original goal of just wanting to get his brother back. I wish Luz saw all his "sad" memories and really started to question herself.

And then I would have wanted Papa Titan to shoot that down regardless, and then explain that while Belos may have started out a victim of his circumstances as an orphaned child in a cult, the Isles gave him chances to change. Memories of Philip in the Isles seeing Caleb happy, being given chances by witches, being given so many chances to change, and rejecting them accompanying this scene would be ideal. Really hammer in that he aas responsible for his own suffering and that he has absolutely no excuse for what he did to all his victims.

And then, in the final death scene, as he claims that as humans they are better than witches one last time, I wish the ghosts of all his victims showed up to prove him wrong. Every witch and grimwalker who choose to be better than him before they fell. Every member of the Hexsquad who believed in him and his regime at one point. Every single one of them a reminder of how his lies can't even convince himself anymore.

And finally, his own brother, a fellow human, who appears before him. I imagine Caleb looking at him with pity, almost sympathy, before a quiet acceptance comes onto his face and he turns away from him. He walks towards the crowd and chooses their side, next to Evelyn. Neither Caleb nor Luz say a single word. There is nothing left to be said to him anymore. Every single person on the Isles, human or witch, has turned against him now.

If anything could break his will, I think this would be it. I imagine him phasing through his different forms, trying to find a way to justify himself in each one, gradually desolving into desparate screams, before the boiling rain melts him away like in canon (except without the stomping please).

Aaaand that's it, no more notes. Thanks so much to all the Wittebane fans in the community who have kept his fanbase fed when the show didn't meet our standards and who prompted the line of thought that led to this post.

There are so many of you all who inspired and made my fandom experience fun and created so much out of just Philip, Caleb, and Evelyn (and all your OCs of course!!) so I'm just going to shoutout the ones I remember off the top of my head -

@talisman975

@jess-the-vampire

@calebsrottingcorpse

@owlyhouse

@anona1-mous

@captainmera

@moonmeg

@azure-blaze92

@a-magpie-in-the-bi

@a-magpie-in-gravesfield

This is no particular order and I'm surely missing more so this is by no means exhaustive, but this is just a shoutout for those who kept this fandom going. Y'all are the real troopers for sure.

That's all I got, but I'm posting some old Belos art soon! Cheers all, and may the terrible awful no good goo babygirl keep inspiring us for all the great art <3

[moonmeg]

!!TW for panel 3-5// Blood

Seeing him unharmed and alive in his crib was the greatest relief. He was crying but he was alive. With a soft shush she picked the babe from the crib and cradled him in her arms.

"It's alright, little sprout, it's all perfectly fine. Mama's here.", she tried to calm him with a small rocking motion. Her eyes were fully fixated on his little chubby face and the big round tears running down his pink cheeks. It was still a bit surreal to think this was her baby. Her baby that she had carried beneath her heart for almost nine months. Cat started walking around the room while continuing her attempt to calm him. By now she had figured out how to tell his cries apart. His current cry wasn't of hunger, nor did he have an unpleasant smell about him.

"Did you have a bad dream, my love?", she asked and gently wiped the tears off his face, "Me too...". Robyn wasn't a talker just yet, but he was a great listener. While Cat had many great advisors and comforters around her, whenever she started to speak with Robyn, she realized that sometimes all it needs is someone who simply listens. Of course, she knew he doesn't understand her and that he won't remember any of what she's telling him but the idea that he did was nice enough for her to continue talking to him. So she began fighting against Robyn's cries by retelling him her own dream.

"I dreamed about your Papa. He was here and he looked so proud and full of love as he looked at you. We were all together, just as intended. We were happy.", she smiled at the image in her head. How he was standing next to her before the self-made crib he had spent months on. His hand's firm grip on her upper arm as he pulled her closer to him. His warm brown eyes carrying the love he feels for her in just one look. His proud smile towards his son, his soft touch on her cheek and chin. It all felt so real. Cat couldn't help the tear she shed upon the repeating realization that this image will never be a reality. He was gone. No matter how much in denial she wanted to be or was about it.

Caleb was gone.

"Then he appeared.", she put emphasis on "he". Cathy didn't want to speak his name, nor did she want Robyn to ever hear that name. She would rather have that name and the person it was given to be forgotten. That was his biggest concern, wasn't it? He wanted to be remembered as great witch hunter and as savior to humanity. He wanted his name in history books and an everlasting legacy. She figured, she would not give him that.

She knows she can't shut away the story attached to that person. Sooner or later Robyn would ask what had happened to his father and she wasn't planning on lying to him. But if Robyn never hears the name, even if he retells the story of Caleb's fate to friends or perhaps even his own children some day, the name would never be mentioned and slowly be forgotten. It would be "the person" and not "Philip".

Cat paused, thinking of how to continue the telling. The images flashing her mind threw her right back to that terrible day. Right back to the horrifying sight of her beloved Caleb lying in a growing puddle of blood on the floor, clenching his side, coughing...

She had tried her best to push those memories back and instead replace them with happy memories of him. It was too painful a sight to revisit again and again but she wasn't able to push it away fully.

His blood-dyed shirt, the blood strains on his chin and his arm, the pain and sadness in his eyes, the last of his strength he put into a final kiss before he exhaled one last time and lost the life in his body... she was there. She held him through it all.

She feared those moments would now be her steady company in life. They would always return and reopen the wound and she couldn't escape it.

Catherine looked back to her little son, still very much crying, as she decided to not go into detail about what exactly her subconsciousness tortured her with. Both, because it wasn't fit to tell your month old baby and because she could hardly bear saying the required words.

"I'll spare us both of telling what he did. But he did something horrible. And then...he said something so cruel about you.", she brushed her index finger over Robyn's cheek as if he knew what cruelty was said and she wanted to comfort him.

Robyn's cries lost volume but they weren't gone. He noticed he was no longer alone in the crib but that he was held by someone and he noticed quickly it was his mother so close to him. He knew her scent and he recognized her voice. Sometimes that's all he needed to calm down again: mama.

Said mama stared at him in adoration. She loved her little sprout ever since the healers told her she was pregnant. He has grown so much in just eight months and he still was. She was in awe every time anew. That's her son. Her little boy, who surely would grow into a fine young man... much like his late father. Catherine saw the world in this little life and she was proud to call herself his mother.

"He's just so wrong about you. He said you were never supposed to exist...", her brows furrowed in confusion. If Robyn was never supposed to exist, clearly he wouldn't be here now and clearly, Caleb and her would've never been able to conceive him in the first place. If, by Philip's logic, this child was the aftermath of a so-called "sin", if not a "sin" himself, surely that almighty person Caleb and his brother believed in would've not allowed Robyn to exist. She barely understood any of that topic and yet still even regarding that human belief, everything speaks *for* her baby's existence, not against it.

Robyn made a noise, striking his fist in the air as if in protest of the statement. His cries having ceased under Cathy's rocking-while-walking.

"Yeah.", Cat chuckled and validated Robyn's reply, "He's absolutely wrong.".

She paused for a moment to take the blanket from the crib and wrap him up in it. He was calm now again and it wouldn't take long before he dozed off again. So she hoped at least. Once wrapped up, she adjusted him and placed him over her chest, his head in the crook of her neck, where she was shielding it with her hand.

"You're a gift. The most amazing, wonderful, beautiful gift. And we love you more than anything else. Your father and me.", Cat smiled and turned her head to kiss his crown. She kept her lips pressed to his forehead as the clear night sky caught her attention for a while.

"I wonder what traits of yours he picked up, sweetheart.", she pulled her head back to examine her baby's face once again. There wasn't much of Caleb in Robyn's face but that's to blame on Robyn being a baby still. Of course his facial features are to grow over the years and he wouldn't have a sharp angular jaw as infant but so far Robyn has picked up more from his mother than his father.

"Maybe his hair will stay this light? Maybe his eyes are a warm brown? Or maybe it's something completely different?"

She would welcome any resemblance to her lost love and she would lie if she denied the fact she wished he looked more like Caleb sometimes rather than her when Robyn's older. She'd have her beloved's face back. She'd have his blond locks back. She'd have his beautiful brown eyes back. She'd have him back at least somehow.

Then she noticed Robyn's pointy ears - a trait definitely from her - and further spun the thoughts.

Robyn could grow into her long face and pointy chin. His dirty blond could grow into the brown of her's over the years. He could have her piercing teal eyes. He could be the spitting image of her just as much as he could be of that of Caleb.

"Maybe he barely looks like you when he's older...", she frowned upon the conclusion.

Turning away from the window, she drew a circle in the air and the curtains closed. She got back into bed, holding her infant son tightly as she still lightly rocked him back and forth. She kissed his head again. Whichever traits he picked up from Caleb and whichever from her, in the end her baby was beautiful and perfect just the way he is. He was a gift. Caleb's most precious gift. One she will protect from harm with her life. Her little sprout. Her little Robyn.

[enchantedchocolatebars]

Fic Request: Camilla makes pancakes for Kid Philip, Luz and her friends.

The BEST Fluffy Pancakes EVER

Summary: Camila prepares fluffy pancakes for breakfast with the help of Kid Philip and the Hexsquad.

Ao3 version

A recommended read before reading this

Enjoy!

Thanks for the help, @talisman975!

"Morning, Mamá," Luz greeted her mother with a small yawn and smile, stretching her arms as she stepped into the kitchen.

Camila, after adding some flour into a small bowl and setting it down on the counter, turned to look at her daughter with a smile.

"Good morning, mija," she said, making sure she had all the essential ingredients for the breakfast she was about to prepare.

Luz was filled with joy upon seeing flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, milk, butter, and an egg on the counter as she approached her mother.

She released a small, joyful squeal, her fists clenching in excitement.

She knew exactly what her mother was making for breakfast.

One of mankind's greatest edible inventions.

"Pancakes! Can I help you make them, Mom?" Luz asked with bright eyes, giving her mother the most adorable pleading look.

A small chuckle came from Camila as she nodded.

"Of course you can."

She was happy to see her daughter in a better mood.

Since arriving at her doorstep on that somber rainy night with her friends and a small human boy with brown hair named Philip Wittebane, she noticed that she hadn't been herself lately.

However, Luz was getting better the more she realized that focusing on her sadness wouldn't get her friends back to the Boiling Isles.

She's had to balance creating a new portal door with her friends, spending time with them and her mother, completing schoolwork and homework, attending therapy sessions, and developing a close bond with Philip, which has been a lot for her.

However, with the help of Gus, Luz was able to follow a schedule that helped her find time for everything, and Camila couldn't be more proud of her daughter.

...

The pair soon got to work on breakfast.

Both added flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together in a large mixing bowl.

...

After Camila created a well in the middle of the bowl, she instructed Amity to add milk, melted butter, and an egg.

Camila then assisted Amity in stirring the wet and dry ingredients together with a whisk.

"It's crucial to maintain the lumps. They make the cakes fluffier," she informed Amity with a smile.

...

Hunter and Gus started heating the cast iron skillet.

They coated it lightly with oil while Willow and Vee washed strawberries and blueberries and moved them to small glass bowls.

...

"This is my favorite part," Philip whispered to Camila with a gleeful smile on his face as he stood in front of her, facing the pancake on the skillet that was starting to become round.

He and Camila held a spatula.

"Ready?" Camila gently whispered as she looked down at him with a motherly smile.

Philip gave her a nod.

Sliding their shared spatula under the pancake, they gently rotated it on the other side.

"It's golden!" Philip gasped, his blue eyes lighting up at the golden-brown state of the pancake.

Camila nodded her head.

"It is," she said, allowing the other side to cook before sliding the cake onto a plate.

"Mijo, your pancake flipping was excellent. Let's flip some more!"

...

Philip pushed a forkful of pancakes into his mouth as he sat at the dining room table with Luz and her friends, who were also enjoying their stack of pancakes as well.

"Mmm, they're so soft!" he hummed in delight while chewing before swallowing.

"These are the bestest, most fluffiest pancakes I've ever tasted!"

Philip turned to look at Camila, who was filling her morning cup with coffee.

"Thank you so much for making them, Mrs. Camila!" the brunette beamed as the mother approached him with her cup.

She then pulled out the empty chair beside Philip's left and took a seat next to him.

"Aww, you're welcome, baby. But remember, you helped make them as well, so thank you. Thank you, everyone," Camila expressed her gratitude to Philip and the Hexsquad with a warm smile as they smiled back at her.

"You're welcome," they all said in unison.

"Mrs. Camila, may we make more pancakes tomorrow morning, too?" an overexcited Philip inquired as he continued to eat more of his breakfast.

Camila chuckled and ruffled his hair with her free hand.

"Of course we can, mijo."

[waywardsunlight]

That art where Caleb fell into the time pools I wonder how Caleb and hunter would interact

The Sad Answer: I think it might be kind of upsetting for Hunter because Caleb raised his former guardian and is the source of Hunter's identity problems from Belos. Caleb is trying his best to salvage it but he knows something bad happened. The Happy Answer: I think Hunter would ask about Flapjack and they'd be able to bond over him and his impact on their lives. Meeting Caleb would just prove that they're very different people and it could make Hunter feel more secure in his identity. Also, Caleb would love Darius + Eber and be happy that Hunter found people who love him. I think in a different AU they could be very close, have a dad/kid relationship, but Hunter's a 19 year old already who's been living with his adopted family for three years, Caleb's heading back to his daughter, and I feel that for the most part, Hunter's done with talking about Philip or the past. It would be nice to see that Caleb wasn't perfect either, and that the standard Hunter was held to has nothing to do with either of them.

[icy-watch]

I'm kinda in shock rn.

But ok.

King is a prisoner new BFF to the Collector. So, going to have to save him. Somehow.

Eda's lost an arm to the curse. But at least she's alive.

And Belos is... not quite dead. A bit of him stayed with Hunter and went thru the portal with the Owl Squad.

Obviously the point of the next season is going to be to get back to the Boiling Isles to save everyone. Belos is going to make a comeback at some point, and try to take them down, but they'll be ready this time.

And Luz's Palisman still needs to hatch.

Yeah.

I forgot the message at the top of the episode again, but I was right. The message is "seek the key fear the lock."

Tomorrow is an in person movie night with my cousin, his wife, and our group. So, I won't be able to liveblog tomorrow. I'm planning on liveblogging at least 10 to 15 minutes of the first episode of s3 the next day earlier than normal. Much earlier. I have a family thing that evening, but the day after that should be normal.

So, until then!

Correct and incorrect predictions below the cut.

Correct

The Abominations Belos bought from the Blights will have something to do with the Day of Unity. *sad laughter*

King is a Titan. I'm gonna go find an apple blood recipe and make it for s3. I deserve it. As a treat for being able to predict this in the third episode of the season.

Belos is going to use an axe against Luz. His did. In his mind. I still feel like it'll happen in the show again.

Eda will explore the control she has over her curse. And she's gathered a great hold over it.

The Abominations Belos bought from the Blights will have something to do with the Day of Unity. *sad laughter*

King is a Titan. I'm gonna go find an apple blood recipe and make it for s3. I deserve it. As a treat for being able to predict this in the third episode of the season.

Belos is going to use an axe against Luz. His did. In his mind. I still feel like it'll happen in the show again.

Eda will explore the control she has over her curse. And she's gathered a great hold over it.

We're going to see Gus utilizing his powers to their full potential later in the series. Albeit out of his control, he did technically use them against Adrian and the Emperor's Coven.

The figure we saw who looked like King is not his dad. Yeeeeee! Guessed right.

When we see Lily and Eda's dad again, he doesn't hold it against Eda for injuring him. I... y'all. I am so happy he doesn't.

Hunter's going to leave the castle soon. BUT I WASN'T EXPECTING UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES

We are going to learn a little more about Luz's father and how he passed away. Ouch.

Luz is never going to make an actual portal home. She didn't. She ended up getting back using the 1 Belos made for himself.

Something will happen to stop Luz's Palisman from hatching. Crossing over into the human world is probably a big 1.

Luz, King, and Eda will be separated further. OUCH!

Incorrect

There are more than 4 glyphs. There are only 4 glyphs, but there's more combos than there are variations of Oreos and Doritos.

The item the first human to the Boiling Isles left in the library will be in Amity's little hideout. It would have made it soooooo much easier to get if it had been.

Something will happen to the coven heads - they'll disappear ro be killed off or something - thru the season. This was such a great idea at the time. Belos might have been better off if he listened to me. An L on his end, tbh.

Luz's Palisman is going to take a couple of episodes to appear. *sad laughter*

Belos got the ownership of Philip's journal by being friends or something. More like they're the same person.

Eda's going to help Luz carve her Palisman. She did and we only got to see a little bit of it, and I am sad.

Francois will become animate. Sadly, nope.

King will animate Francois by talking to him. Y'all have no idea how disappointed I am about Francois, let me tell you.

Owlbert won't make it to s3. I have never been so happy to be wrong.

Belosis going to bring the Boiling Isles to the human world. More like murder everyone to return.

Raine has memory loss from the spell. Thankfully, they were just faking it to trick Belos and Terra.

Powerful witches needed for the Day of Unity ritual will have glowing eyes when they use their powers. Surprisingly no. They might be needed for something else tho.

Eda's going to die. Thank the sun, moon, stars, and Spongebob she didn't.

Partial

Belos is infected by something. Putting this here, bc yes but no. The Palismen he consumed have sort of infected him, but not in the sense that I was actually thinking. My thought was he got hit with some Wild Magic or something.

Hunter comes from a line of witches who were descendants of humans, and he is somehow related to Philip Wittebane. Yes, but no. He is technically related to Philip by being a clone of his brother, but he doesn't come from a line of powerless witches who were descended from humans.

Our friends are going to lose the fight against Belos. Technically, they did lose, as it was the Collector who splattered him.

Unconfirmed

The footprints. 2 of them appear what 1 would expect for the time period. The barefoot tracks can be from any time. And the other 2 were too modern. Time travel? Either way, people end up dying. I'm thinking this'll be addressed in s3.

Something happened to Belos's brother at Eclipse Lake. Most likely, his death. This'll be addressed in s3 with the previous 1.

Belos Jurassic Parked the Basilisks to learn how to use the draining spell. This was kind of answered by people in my reblogs and comments, but it hasn't been outwardly stated in the show. And I have no idea if it will be.

The thing King's dad was fighting on the wall is similar to whatever Belos is turning into. This might be addressed in s3. I have my doubts tho.

Birds. The Clawthorns and the Wittebanes are related somehow. I'm thinking the connection might be Belos's brother, but unconfirmed atm.

The circle tablet was broken in a fight between Belos and his brother. Might be addressed in s3.

The dagger was used by Belos to kill his brother. This was heavily implied. It was also implied that the same dagger was used to mutilate his ears.

[thedailybullshit]

The finale’s 1 month anniversary was yesterday, & I spent it sleeping. So have all the incorrect quotes I didn’t get a chance to post:

Eda: Are you sure you like me?

Raine: *kneeling w/ ring*

Raine: I’m proposing to you.

Eda: Yeah, but like . . . as friends orrrrrr?

Hunter: Are you sure you like me?

Edric: *kneeling w/ ring*

Edric: I’m proposing to you.

Hunter: Yeah, but like . . . as friends orrrrrr?

Luz: DON’T fuck with me! I have the power of the Titan AND anime on my side!

Philip: Wait, y-

Luz: NOW EAT THIS, SUCKAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The Collector: I know what you’re gonna say: Philip needs forgiveness and I should try to get along with him.

Luz: No, he’s crazy and he needs to go down.

Caleb: Y-y-y-you’re not going to stab a pregnant lady, are you, Phil?

Philip: Yes, in the face. Why?

Luz: Do I even weigh anything to you?

Papa Titan: No. It’s like holding a couple of grapes.

Caleb: Evelyn, I just realized something. I had a bad childhood.

Evelyn: Yes, I know.

Caleb: What do you mean, you know?

Evelyn: Look at you.

Caleb: What do you mean, look at me?!

Evelyn: Look at how you stand.

Caleb:

Evelyn: People who had good childhoods don’t stand like that.

Showing them Memories of their Dad:

Evelyn: Sometimes, special people come into our lives, stay for a bit, and then they have to go.

Morgan: But that’s sad.

Evelyn: It is. But the bit where they were here was happy, wasn’t it?

Morgan: *seeing the happiness in the memories* Yeah.

[beejbsbswiwisnsnwwk]

Grimwalker headcanons

.their eyes glow in the dark

.their ears are very expressive. When they are happy their ears perk up, when they are sad their ears droop down, etc

TW this headcanon is graphic with blood (maybe gore? I’m not to sure, I’m sorry) ⬇️

.the first grim walker didn’t work out properly. He crawled out of the ground a bit too early and he was not developed properly. His lungs closed up and filled with blood and started to choke and throw it up, some bones were sticking out of the skin, their eyes did not fit properly in the sockets, and other problems. They died 10 minutes after digging out of the ground, and it was a very painful and graphic death. Belos threw up and waited longer to make another grimwalker

.grimwalker need some kind of memories to go off of. If you make a grimwalker with no memories they won’t know how to do anything, and they have the functions of a newborn, due to the lack of anything to go off of

.the second grimwalker was developed properly, but belos didn’t give him any memories. The grimwalker was made to look about 17 but didn’t know how to properly control parts of their body, like walking, crawling, controlling bladder, ect. Belos killed them 5 hours later

.belos would make fake memories for each individual grimwalker to go along with their “backstory” and what happened to their parents etc. He would have to much fun with it

.the majority of the grimwalker figured out that belos was evil, the ones who didn’t died on missions or due to belos’ “curse”

.belos would ask some of the grimwalkers to call him “Philip” or “pip” before he kills them

.there was one female grimwalker, who was killed a few day after digging out of the ground, she reminded belos of Evelyn

.belos made 78 grimwalkers

.grimwalkers need the bone of the person they are cloning. The cloning will be more accurate depending on how many bones used, belos was careful with the bones at first but became a bit more “careless”

.Hunter was made with both of Caleb’s full hands, each hand hase about 27 bones each, meaning belos used 54 bones to make Hunter

.Hunter was made to be the age of 4 or 5 when he dug out of the dirt, Hunter almost died because he couldn’t dig out. Belos had to dig Hunter out of the ground, but almost let him suffocate incase hunter wasn’t “ready yet”

TW this headcanon is also violent and bloody (I think gore fits this one, I’m still sure I’m very sorry)⬇️

.there was one other grimwalker that was made to be 6. When he grew to about 10 he started to remind belos of Caleb, but a little too much. Belos’ “curse” took over when the grimwalker was around. Belos killed him and left him to slowly bleed to death, and his organs and ribs were visible due to how violent the outburst was

.Each part of the body that gets a certain bone, that area of the body is sensitive. If a grimwalker got a leg, they would have very bad pain in the leg, and would have a limp

.A grimwalker got Caleb’s skull. They were in so much pain from migraines, they couldn’t eat, or drink, or talk, or do anything from how bad the pain would get. Their pain would get so bad they would pass out. Belos put them out of their misery with a very quick death, they were one of the only grimwalkers to not die a slow death

(I’ll edit this or reblog with more headcanons)

[lampmanliveblogs]

The end credits showcase some beautiful drawings. Originally, I wasn’t gonna include all of them… but then I realized that if I’ve already taken 137 screenshots (give or take), then 9 more aren't gonna make that huge of a difference.

We’ve got some nice, sorta slice-of-life scenes, you know, things we could have gotten to see properly if season three had actually been a full season and not three double length ”specials.”

Sorry, I don’t want to be bitter.

I really like that Luz is showing Camila how to draw some glyphs. Who knows, maybe Mama Noceda will bust out some fire glyphs during her adventures into edgy Narnia.

Oh, this is DEFINITELY a ship. ”Ett skepp kommer lastat!” as we say where I’m from.

This picture is so chaotic, I kinda love it. Willow and Hunter both scared, Gus screaming at the top of his lungs and throwing popcorn everywhere (which goes to explain why the room is empty…). Amity’s scared too and clinging to Luz, who in turn looks like she’s thinking ”Gee willikers, I get to hold Amity’s hand!”

Vee’s just chilling in the background. You love to see it.

A snapshot of Hunter sleeping, safe and sound, with his new favorite book and best friend to watch over him… but the past still intrudes upon his happy present, represented by the book on witch hunters and photograph of the brothers Wittebane.

…then we have these two drawings. Call them Doktor Sadness, because they’re here to bring down the mood.

I’d insult Philip some more, but honestly… I’ve kinda used up all my material. Maybe I could think of some more, but I need to have some stuff for when he inevitably makes his return in either or both of the coming two episodes.

And then Luz crying at the abandoned house… Just stab me in the chest too while you’re at it.

But fortunately, we end on a good note; the Exiles ready to return home, Luz ready to return to her second home, and Camila ready to venture into a brand new world.

Also, Vee in the background like Õ_Õ 

So yeah, that was Thanks to Them! Suffice it to say that I loved it. Is it everything I’ve ever dreamed of? Pretty much, yeah. I think that everything I realistically expected to happen in this episode did happen. Going into the next one, I expect to find out what happened to Eda, King and the others, as well as what The Collector is up to. There’s also the question of what Philip’s plan is going back to the Demon Realm, as well as how Luz will overcome her crushing feelings of guilt.

This has taken me a really long time and it’s getting late, so this is where I’m gonna have to say farewell for now. Hopefully the next two episodes will not take as long as this one. We’ll see. Until next time… take care of the planet Earth and remember that anything can happen in space!

[the-owl-house-takes]

Honestly, I don't get how people can't at least tolerate Caleb. Sure, he was a witch hunter, but he was also a child in a horrible place. As for the whole ditching his brother situation it's sad of course, but I can't blame him for taking his chance to escape. Besides the responsibility of raising Philip shouldn't have rested on his shoulders either even though they were orphans, what about his childhood? He also wasn't a colonizer like Belos, he was an immigrant and probably loved the Isles as much as Luz. In the memories you can see how happy Caleb is to see to Philip again, then the complete terror on his face during the knife fight. Flapjack loved him. Luz is a lot like him. Without him we wouldn't have Hunter. I think we cut the guy some slack.

-

[sylvarantii]

Sometimes I find myself struggling to write Belos/Philip because I'm always afraid I write him too nice. And then I have to remind myself that if he wants to really manipulate someone or get them on his side, he's of course going to be the kindest person you ever met at first. That's how he wins you over.

He uses the gentlest approach and gets you thinking, "I would do anything for this person." It's exactly how Hunter used to view him, after all. He gets you to sympathize him and lower your guard. And even when he reveals himself in his crueler moments, you think to yourself, "Well, he's only being like this because he's having a rough time right now."

So, you know, writing something where he's at first a very kind and passive person to the player in a dating sim isn't inaccurate. He might show small pieces of his undesirable personality, but overall, it's important to remember that he got a whole isle of people to love him and follow his lead.

(More ramblings below the cut cause I didn't want this to take forever to scroll down through.)

Still, I can't deny, the part of me that prefers not to make it all sad/angst does want to give the player the option for a good ending with him. But I think the problem is...you are REALLY going to have to enable the guy. Because loyalty is possibly the most important trait to him. And if he sees even a smidge of doubt, he won't be happy.

Like, I'm sorry, but he just feels very set in his ways. And trust me, I've known people in real life that you will NEVER get them to change their opinion on something once they've decided it's true. No matter how wrong they are about it.

But, I guess for the people that wanted some bad endings? Well, they're probably in for a treat at least. I don't know, this feels like a delicate process because while I know I can't make everyone happy, I want at least a majority to enjoy it and be at least satisfied with it in the long run.

But uh, this feels like a long project running, so I guess there's no need to worry about endings right now.

Either way, I guess I'm going to preface this with a warning that more than likely with me writing him, the relationship is going to be unhealthy. I can't see it any other way, really.

Mostly because I just can't stand when people try to write romance for an evil character and they make them too nice. Well written characters that are big time OOC are huge pet peeve for me in particular. Like, I definitely have it in mind to where he will treat the player better than anyone else he knows because he'll come to care about you deeply.

I love writing romances where a character ends up putting their loved one above everyone else, after all. He'll absolutely cherish you, as the player. But he'll also develop some pretty obsessive feelings because this is the first person he's really connected with since...possibly the bond he had with his brother.

Anyway, I'm rambling because I'm excited, but I'm also trying not to reveal much until I actually get some stuff together. But I'm very excited with how the script is coming along. I can't wait to get this going in Ren'py and have some screenshots to share for everyone.

As a side note though, I'd also like to say that, uh, the first part isn't going to have much when it comes to romantic implications. I'm also a slow burn type of writer. And while I hate having to write build up, I also don't want anything to happen too fast.

[libidomechanica]

With an unknown, flowers sweeter be, with its

A woman’s domain like or wages     of gold, and the crowd, the limits, and outside of mee,     if I’ve made him not thou,

sad Hour, enter’d in such sort that     all art outright, that gladly the scaffold’s down in blackboard     with an answer: do what

I see around hers shall never     kiss your lore! And with suspension lacks, and where to bring, and     hid the golden, green bower

by some old Man said, I fear     but wants me her hair. Making about to the first and fed     with falterian. Then live

again. For a man for this happy     melody, why doe I lose to shatter at the lone     stone lay the ocean’s form,

and in ground, she dwell on Parnasse     hylls, or doe we doubt you watching flocke, to where Byrds of     rivulets down? Did what matter—

still The Shah beheld an Ocean     barks of year her head saw’st the honey’d rain and our head,     hand crocuses, sleeps—the

pinnace overcast! Thy father     an’ mother one. How does it their fame to live damask, and     haud me did not content,

but pyping low. Just such a n     active country yields each other Philip, I hate and vows.     A hill, beside! Keeps warmth

and course! Look at me. With an unknown,     flowers sweeter be, with its limbs from Oxford hunters     who feede his friends, come her.

The church at midsummer-standing     to the woman to see the other knots, the ocean’s roar:     but that Woman’s soul, by

painful plight: whilome was low, hey     both shade where thought is flocks at will has the coronals of     a stored to pat the stories

are a fellowship, O Moone,     tell, so hath awake no more moves darkens. And point did to     my burial come of

their flocks? Went out a dawn, whom he     tame and laid you, now, has his. Glance, strike thou might I have given     thou might cut to doubt,

but for herdsman’s form by silent     over more! Out of dusky door Lost Angel mild: witless     still exist above me!

[mythicandco]

Cheer up tickle for hunter as a father figure bonding time for the fanfic

Since I got off-track with the other Edward/Hunter bonding ask (you’ll see when it’s posted) here’s something that actually has to do with this father and his clone son (Note: this fanfic is probably not canon to the AU but it had to be done for everyone’s sakes after my most recent PtF post)

“Hurry up, Hunter!” Luz’s voice called him from up ahead. The human had already ran through the door, gently squeezing her girlfriend’s hand in her own. “I need to introduce you all to my mom! And Vee!!”

Philip trailed after Eda and King, who were close behind Luz and Amity. He was fiddling with his hands nervously, which was strange seeing as he was supposed to be returning home.

Hunter stood before the door, not willing to step through. What if something went wrong? What if he got stuck in the Human Realm? What if being a Grimwalker meant that he couldn’t-

“Are you okay?“ Edward‘s voice, a familiarity that wasn’t directly associated with memories of manipulation or self-loathing, dragged Hunter out of his thoughts. The Golden Guard swallowed his pride.

“I’m scared.”

Edward gave Hunter a little shoulder-hug. “Hey. We’re all right here beside you. Don’t worry.”

The boy nodded and stepped through the door.

He found himself shutting his eyes tightly, and when nothing happened, he opened them and looked up.

Above their heads was a dark blue - not black - bowl, speckled with quiet white stars. A sound Hunter didn’t recognize - some kind of strange, high-pitched chirping - filled the night with white noise. Green pines surrounded him on all sides, and a scent unlike anything he’d ever smelled before filled his nose.

“Oh, look at that,��� Eda, up ahead, turned her face to the sky. “It’s going to rain soon.”

Panic seized Hunter - rain?! They needed to find shelter, fast-

“Calm down, kid,” Eda snorted. “Rain doesn’t boil in the Human Realm. It feels kinda nice, actually.” Her words echoed something Hunter had read in a book a long time ago, about how the seas in the Human Realm were cold instead of scalding, and the trees were all green instead of red.

Clouds gathered on the horizon, and the sky cried tears of joy.

Cool droplets landed in Hunter’s hair and splattered across his clothes and dripped down his face along with his own tears. Edward crouched down and hugged him. It was a proper hug this time, with both arms wrapped protectively around him and a warmth filling his bones. Hunter sank deeper into the embrace, and cried harder as the peaceful rain fell all around them.

A little ways away from the others, Philip leaned against a tree. His clothes were soaked from the downpour and he wasn’t too happy about it. Plus he’d lost sight of the others a while ago and only knew the general direction of the group because of the voices talking happily to one another.

He felt that a lot of things had happened in the rain.

Deals had been struck, stories had been shared, promises had been made, lies had been told, betrayals had been executed. Old bones had been uncovered. Old memories had been recalled. Old nightmares had returned.

An owl flew overhead, and one of it’s feathers fell loose, drifting through the rain and into the mud.

But Hunter took no notice, too happy in the rain.

[enchantedchocolatebars]

Headcanon: I like to think that Inner Belos, when he's in the form of his kid self, likes to reenact happy moments from the real deal Philip's childhood with a living and breathing skeleton of Kid Caleb who's got a permanent smile on his face.

He never frowns or expresses any other emotions that aren't happy.

He's the ideal Caleb to him.

He also wears his cute lil witch hat along with his cape.

The two are always running around having fun in the minescape together.

There's never a sad or bad moment between them.

The reason why "Kid Philip" was seen sobbing behind a pillar when Luz and Hunter find him in "Hollow Mind" is because, while, yes, he was OBVIOUSLY trying to trick them, he and skelly (skeleton) Caleb were playing hide-and-seek and "Kid Philip" couldn't find him.

[sepublic]

Anyhow there’s something indescribably sad to the Collector trying to reach out to Belos, of all people, and give him some compassion. Not just for what follows right afterwards, but also...

Part of their arc really is the age-old realization of how life isn’t perfect. Not just with existence and permanence of death, but also in that loss of innocence when you want to believe that you can save and befriend everyone. That nobody is too far gone, that everybody can be happy together!

The Collector has known Philip for centuries; He’s one of his longest relationships, and for Philip, the Collector IS his longest interaction, by a long shot. The Collector has been privy to so many of Philip’s secrets, by proxy of being a source for arcane knowledge, so they know all about the Grimwalkers and his human identity.

They’ve picked up on Philip’s loneliness, his insecurities; Even asking Philip about his anxieties over returning home. They weren’t wrong about any of these things! For centuries, the Collector reassured himself that the two of them were friends, and I wonder if a recognition in their similarities helped fuel this conception for the kid. Made them feel less lonely.

In the end, I kind of get the idea that the Collector cared for Philip, despite it all; Or at least was inspired enough by Luz to give her idea a shot, because if it worked on them, why not Philip? Who is just like them, because Belos thrives on making these comparisons between himself and others to manipulate them! And sure he was mean and a liar, but the Collector misunderstood King to be that, and was wrong! If they just needed help, then Philip...?

And that gets me back to the Collector’s scared and disappointed question, one he’s repeated all his life; What did he do wrong? What did he do wrong, for Belos to not reciprocate, to lash out? They don’t want to hold malice, they just want to get along... It ties back to this idea of kids and even adults kind of seeing themselves as the heroes of their story, there’s a responsibility for them to save others. And if they don’t accept help, then it’s the fault of the person who reached out for not trying hard enough.

It’s the devastating heartbreak that came to Hunter, to any kid who’s had an older, conservative relative who refused to change their mind. Refused to listen, despite all of the compassion in the world. And the grief that some people won’t get better, won’t get happier. And in the end, as Luz recognizes, you just have to admit that it’s up to those people to do so. It’s only your responsibility to a certain degree.

That’s part of Luz letting go of her Hero complex, whereas Belos never gives up on being a Savior, in trying to convert people like Caleb at any cost. Luz reiterates to the Collector that they didn’t do anything wrong, and King’s dad reminds her as well; Luz forgives herself for not being able to do enough, both for being a child who shouldn’t bear the weight of the world on her shoulders, and also for just being a single, flawed person. It isn’t her fault, there isn’t something secretly wrong about Luz for failing to save Belos. You can only give so much support. And after everything he’s done...

Well. There’s nothing wrong about Luz hating Belos, wanting him to die when he pleads for mercy, feebly tries to appeal to “peace” as if he’s ever considered that, spat and killed at every attempt for it by Caleb, his Grimwalkers, the Collector, his followers, Luz; Every kind person he’s met in the isles.

As King’s dad reminds her, fighting the bad guy doesn’t necessarily make you equally evil, because sometimes you HAVE to fight, in self-defense, because those people won’t quit. It’s not required for victims to forgive, nor should they try to appeal to ‘moral sensibilities’ by being palatable in how they retaliate against an oppressor. Anger IS okay and justified, and you shouldn’t feel guilty and be expected to always take the moral high ground.

For a kid like the Collector or even Luz, it’s a heartbreaking epiphany; Not everyone can be happy, no matter how hard you try. As King’s dad notes, you CAN’T control everyone and everything. But eventually, they learn to let go of those toxic people and that obsession; Accept and make the most of that, and find relief in this lesson. The show never admonishes compassion, even if it won’t always be enough; Look at Gus, whose arc involves realizing that while people may take his compassion for granted and even manipulate it, it’s not foolish and eventually there will be those who reciprocate. Kindness does pay off in the long run!

[soapbbox]

And what if suddenly half of my brain was occupied with a Swap AU, how funny would that be

A little blurb about my ideas for this under the cut:

So essentially Philip and Caleb grew up in one of those small, very religious towns that still happen to hold the beliefs about witches (I guess it would be in modern day but like one of those towns that feel like ur back in the 1800s). Then Caleb and Philip accidentally travel to the boiling isles, Caleb meets his witch wife etc. Instead of killing Caleb, Philip gets over his prejudice (kinda) because he sees how happy she makes him.

Then something happens and Caleb and his wife end up in the human realm with Philip/Belos stuck in the demon realm. Caleb works tirelessly to try and find a way back, him and his wife have Hunter, and 10 years later they move out of the town bc a. It still sucks, and b. Caleb has given up on finding a way back to the demon realm. Idk maybe I’ll have Caleb die during his work; either way, Hunter grows up not knowing much (or at all) abt magic or the demon realm bc no one likes to talk about it (his mom knows how it makes Caleb sad, so she also avoids the subject. She is also very weary about being outed as a witch bc she lives in that town).

Then something happens and Caleb and his wife end up in the human realm with Philip/Belos stuck in the demon realm. Caleb works tirelessly to try and find a way back, him and his wife have Hunter, and 10 years later they move out of the town bc a. It still sucks, and b. Caleb has given up on finding a way back to the demon realm. Idk maybe I’ll have Caleb die during his work; either way, Hunter grows up not knowing much (or at all) abt magic or the demon realm bc no one likes to talk about it (his mom knows how it makes Caleb sad, so she also avoids the subject. She is also very weary about being outed as a witch bc she lives in that town).

In the demon realm, Philip studies magic to try and survive, pretty much the same as canon. Except for I imagine him going through one of the time pools that sends him like 100-200 years in the past and he gets stuck there. He does the carving glyphs into his skin, finding the collector, etc, so he’s still a gooey monster by the time Hunter finds him.

Now onto the present, similar to Luz, Hunter finds and goes through the portal door and adventures around before he gets attacked by Belos for trespassing. Hunter recognizes him bc of old family pics, but Belos doesn’t. Anyways, their bonding revolves around finding a way back (portal door belongs to Ed’s, but they don’t know that) and Hunter being super interested in magic bc no one at home talks about it.